By Cody Stark
There will be some new coaches roaming the sideline this season for Sam Houston State, but there is one guy that literally stands above the rest.
Former Seattle Seahawks and University of Texas offensive lineman Bryan Millard has joined the Bearkats staff as a voluntary assistant with the goal of breaking into the coaching ranks down the road.
Millard hopes that he can use his successful playing career to help develop young players. But he knows that just because he played football does not necessarily mean that he can coach.
“I learned a long, long time ago that just because you played does not equate to you being able to coach,” Millard said Friday afternoon. “I have to learn how to coach also. Being around coach (Brandon) Jones, coach (James) Ferguson and coach (Lee) Hayes, I’m getting hands-on experience.”
Millard played at Texas from 1980-82 and was a starter on the Longhorns’ 1981 squad, which won the Cotton Bowl and finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation. He went undrafted in the NFL, but he was selected by the New Jersey Generals in the 1983 United States Football League draft.
He played there for two seasons before joining the Seahawks in the fall of 1984. He earned a starting job in 1985 and held it until an injury derailed his career at the beginning of the ’92 season.
After Seattle released him in ’93, Millard wanted to be a family man, went into private business and eventually opened a chain of gas stations. He sold those a few years back, and after watching his kids grow up, decided it was the right time to get back into football.
Former Texas assistant coach Hardee McCrary got Millard in touch with Bearkats head coach Todd Whitten and that opened the door.
“Hardee McCrary, who used to coach with coach Whitten years ago, helped me out,” Millard said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity coach Whitten has given me. I’m here when they open the door and when they close the door. I’m very thankful to be here.”
Lamar football schedule finalized — Lamar announced its 11th and final opponent for the 2010 season when the Cardinals return to football for the first time since 1989. The Cardinals will finish the season Nov. 20 at home in a contest against Oklahoma Panhandle State.
Lamar also hosts Webber International (Sept. 11), Sam Houston State (Oct. 2), Langston (Oct. 9), South Alabama (Oct. 16) and South Dakota. The Cardinals open the season at McNeese State on Sept. 4 and head to Southeastern Louisiana (Sept. 18), Stephen F. Austin (Sept. 25), North Dakota (Oct. 30) and Georgia State (Nov. 6).
Two more invites — The Nicholls State men’s basketball team better make sure it stocks up on plenty of warm clothes this fall. The Colonels were part of the six-team field that will play in the Great Alaska Shootout, which was announced Friday.
The tournament usually features eight teams, but host Alaska Anchorage said the field will be smaller in 2009. Joining the Colonels and Seawolves will be Houston, Oklahoma, San Diego and Washington State.
Also this week, the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-off field was announced and Texas State will be representing the Southland Conference. The Bobcats will face Arizona State in the opening round when the event begins Nov. 16-17.
